As many as 75 fishermen were jailed, and two other fined on Saturday (Oct 19) for defying the government's ongoing 22-day ban on netting mother Ilish.
In Rajbari, a mobile court led by, Md Mohiuddin, executive magistrate of Rajbari district administration sentenced 51 fishermen to 12 days in jail each.
The fishermen were jailed for catching Ilish from Padma River at Goalanda, and Daulatdia area.
160 kgs of Ilish, and 200,000 meters of net were also seized from their possession.
In Patuakhali, a mobile court of UNO Pijus Chandra Dey sent 12 fishermen to jail for a month each, and fined two others Tk 5,000 each for netting Ilish from Tetulia River near Bauphal.
The arrested were from Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola district; 45 kgs of Ilish, and 15,000 meters of net were also seized, said Bauphal Fisheries Officer Jashim Uddin.
In Gaibandha, a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Amir Hamza sentenced nine fishermen to 10 days in prison each.
They were arrested from Brahmaputra River near Kamarjani union with seven kgs of Ilish, and 20,000 meters of fishing net.
In Jhalokati, Md Bashir Gazi, executive magistrate of Jhalokati district administration sent three fishermen to jail.
The arrested Siddik Howladar was given one year, while Rana Talukdar and Imtiaz Shikdar were given one month of prison time each. 40 kgs of Ilish, and 5,000 meters of net were also seized from the Sugondha River.
Officials say these drives will continue till Oct 30 all over the country. The seized fish were distributed to various orphanages, and the nets were burned.
Bangla Tribune correspondents from Rajbari, Patuakhali, Gaibandha and Jhalokati provided inputs to the story.